Automatic fuel control system for vehicles



Feb. 14, 1939. E. M. GAVIN 2,146,729

AUTOMATIC FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed April 11, 1938 3' Sheets-Sheet l CARBURETER H IIHIII ."HE'HI' l 'I l lNVENTOR Edward/4.6a uin BY w gz FITTORNE Y Feb. 14, 1939. E. M. GAVIN AUTOMATIC FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES 5 Sheets$heet 2 Filed April 11, 1938 lNVf'NTOR 7 5mm HTT RNEY Feb. 14,1939. E. VlN 2,146,729

AUTOMATIC FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed April 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q: E n x) Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,140,129 snrom'rro rum. con'mor. srs'rsu roa curs VEHI Edward M. Gavin. Barksdale Field, La. Application April 11,1938, Serial No. 201.468 15 Claims. (0!. 158-86) (Granted under the act of March a, lass. as amended April so, 1928; :10 o. o. m)

This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an automaticfuel control system for vehicles; more particularly it is directed to a system of this character for use on airplanes having multiple fuel tanks.

One of the objects of the invention is to'provide a fuel control system for airplanes, automobiles, launches and other vehicles having multiple fuel tanks, which is adapted to automatically cause one. tank after another to be placed in communication with the carbureter of the engine of the vehicle upon a preceding tank becoming empty, or to be manually controlled for placing the tanks in communication with the carbureter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic and manual fuel control system which may be readily attached to vehicles now in use, having multiple fuel tanks, which is substantially simple in construction and operation and which is durable and not liable to get out of order. 7

Briefly stated, this invention consists of a plurality of fuel tanks provided on a vehicle. a rotary valve adapted to cause one fuel tank and then another to be placed in communication through a fuel pump with the carbureter of the engine of the vehicle and to cut 01 the other tanks from communication with the carbureter, a manual control means for operating said valve, electrical and mechanical means for automatically operating the valve into communication with the fuel tanks and fuel pressure operated 'means for operating the electrical and mechanical means upon a tank becoming empty of fuel or substantially so, and the fuel flowing to the carbureter through the fuel pump has beenreduced a predetermined amount and to stop the operation of the electrical and mechanical means upon the fuel pressure being increased by the changing over from a tank which has become empty to a tank containing fuel. A modified form of the invention, which consists of providing an electric fuel gauge oneacli of the tanks including a fuel actuated float and a fuel tank selector valve commutator, is also included within the scope of the invention.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of certain features of construction and operation of parts which will hereinafter appear and in which- Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of One form of the invention. applied to a vehicle having a plurality of fuel tanks: Big. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview of a valve used in carrying out the invention, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1'; v 5

Fig.8isasectionalviewtakenontheline H of Fig. 1, and illustrating a part of the mechanism for actuating the valve;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of a manual control and an indicator disk which may be used for manually controlling the valve;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a front view partly in section of a commutator with electrical circuits connected thereto shown dically, which is used in the modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a fuel tank provided with an electric fuel gauge used in carrying out the modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the fuel tank and electric fuel gauge taken on the line 8-4 of Fig. 7..

In the illustrated embodiment the invention, the carbureter l of an airplane englue or the like, is connected to a fuel supply pipe 2, whichieads fromthecarburetertoafuel. pump 3 and thence to a valve casing 4 having inlet ports I, I, 'l and 2 provided therein. The inlet ports I, I, I and 8 are connected in communication with a plurality of fuel tanks I, II, II and II by conduits II, l3, l3" and II' respectively. Arranged within the valve casing l, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is a rotaryvalve it having a fuel passageway it formed therein and with a centrally located outlet port, It which is connected in communication with one end of the supply pipe 2. The fuel eway II leads from the outlet port It to the outer periphery of the valve, whereby upon rotative movement of the valve, communication between one and then another of the fuel tanks with the carbureter I is readily established through the valve to the supply pipe 2 leading to the carbureter.

The valve I4 is mounted on one end of a valve control rod il which extends through an instrument panel it of the vehicle at its other end and has a handle I! mounted thereon for manually controlling the valve into communication with one fuel tank and then another as desired. In 60 order for the operator of the vehicle to manually select a particular fuel tank to be placed in communication with the supply pipe 2 through the valve and to determine the amount of movement ofthevalveforplacingthefuelpassageway ll 86 of the valve in communication with the tank selected, an indicating device 23 containing suitable indicia is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In the present case the indicating device 23 is provided with the numerals 1 to 4 at an equal distance around the disk, representing the number of tanks .being used in the system and the distance the valve |4 should be turned by the handle l3, for causing the fuel passageway ll of the valve to be in communication with the tank selected, but it is readily understood that the disk may be provided with as many numerals as the number of fuel tanks employed providing the inlet ports of the valve casing 4 are increased in proportion.

To automatically actuate the rotary valve l4 with one form of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, into communication with the fuel tanks of the vehicle, a fluid pressure operated switch 2| is provided which is connected in communication with the supply pipe 2 between the carbureter I and the fuel pump 3 by means of a conduit 22. The fluid pressure operating switch 2| comprises a casing 23 having a bellows 24 provided therein, which is provided at its bottom portion with an opening 23 connected in communication with the conduit 22. The upper end of the bellows 24 is closed and is provided with an upwardly extending conductor portion 23 containing an electrical contact 21 which is adapted to contact with another electrical contact 23 moimted on one end of a conductor rod 23. The electrical contacts 21 and 23 of the fluid pressure actuated switch 2| are provided for making and breaking an electrical solenoid circuit indicated generally by A, which is adapted to open and close a motor circuit indicated generally by B, and including an electric motor 33 which is in turn adapted to operate a mechanism generally indicated by C. The mechanism C is in turn adapted to rotate the control rod l1 for operating the rotary valve I4.

The electrical solenoid circuit A is connected to the fluid pressure operated switch 2| by a conductor 3| which is connected to the conductor portion 23 of the switch 2| and by a conductor 32 which is connected to the electrical conductor rod 23. The conductor 3| which is connected to the conductor portion 23 of the fluid pressure operated switch. is wound around a solenoid 33 containing a primary contact 34, from where it is connected to the positive side of a source of potential in the form of a battery 35 which is connected at its other or negative side to the conductor 32. In order to notify the operator of the vehicle that the pressure has dropped in the fuel system, a warning light 33 is connected across the conductor 3|.

The primary contact 34 of the solenoid 33 is adapted to open and close the motor circuit B through a pair of second electrical contacts 31 and 33 provided in the motor circuit. The electrical contact 31 of the motor circuit is connected by a conductor 33 to a switch 43 which is in turn connected by a conductor 4| to a terminal 42 on the electric motor 33, and the contact 33 is connected by a conductor 43 to the positive side of a battery 44 which is in turn connected at its other or negative side by a conductor 45 to a terminal 43 of the motor. The motor 33 is mounted on a suitable framework 41 which is secured to a gear base 43 by bolts 43 or the like. The shaft 33 of the'motor extends through the gear base 43 and is provided with a driving pinion 5| on the outer or free end thereof, which is adapted to mesh with an eccentric'gear I2 rotatably mounted on the gear base by a shaft 53. The eccentric gear 32 is provided with a ratchet arm or dog 34 which is pivotally connected at one end by a pin 53 to one side of the eccentric gear closely adjacent to the outer periphery thereof. The outer or free end of the ratchet arm 34 is in the form of a hook 33 which is adapted to engage with notches 31 provided at equally spaced intervals on a ratchet gear 33 fixably mounted on the valve control rod l1. To guide the action of the ratchet arm 54 a suitable guide member 53 is secured to the gear base 43 and to hold the ratchet arm in operative engagement with the ratchet gear 53 a compression device 33 is provided which comprises a casing ll suitably secured to the gear base 43 and having a spring pressed plunger 32 mounted therein containing a roller 33 on the outer end thereof which is adapted to be forced into a contacting engagement with the ratchet arm 34 by the spring pressed plunger 32.

In the operation of this form of the invention, assuming that the switch 43, which is provided in the motor circuit 13, for disconnecting the automatic mechanism when starting the vehicle, has been closed, the tanks 3, l3, H and i2 having been fllled with fuel and the valve l4 operated to cause the fuel passageway l5 thereof to be in communication with the first or main fuel tank 3, whereby the fuel in the tank is caused to flow through the conduit I3, through the inlet port 3 of the valve casing 4 into the fuel passageway i5 and outlet port l6 of the valve and thence into supply pipe 2, through the fuel pump 3 into the carburetor I, some of the fuel in the supply pipe is forced by the fuel pump 3 into the bellows 24 of the fluid pressure operated switch 2| and as the fuel in the main tank 3 is used the amount of fuel which is delivered by the fuel pump 3 to the fuel operated switch is gradually reduced thereby causing the bellows 24 to gradually collapse until the electrical contact 21 of the fluid pressure switch 2| is moved downward sufllciently to contact with the electrical contact 23, thereby closing the electrical circuit A and causing the primary contact 34 of the solenoid 33 to be operated into contacting engagement with the contacts 31 and 33 of the electric motor circuit B. This operation closes the circuit B and causes the motor 33 to be operated by the battery 44 in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. As the motor 33 is operated the motor driving pinion 5| meshing with the eccentric gear 32 rotates the eccentric gear in the direction as indicated by the arrow which through its rotation pulls on the pivoted end of the ratchet arm 54 and causes the outer hook end thereof to engage one of the notches 51 of the ratchet gear 53, thus rotating the ratchet gear one quarter of a turn in the direction as indicated by the arrow. Upon the rotation of the ratchet gear in the direction of the arrow the valve control rod i1 is rotated in the same direction, thereby rotating the valve l4 and causing the fuel passageway I5 to come in communication with the inlet port 3 of the valve casing 4, which is connected in communication with the auxiliary fuel tank I3 by the conduit i3. Upon an increase of fuel in the supply pipe 2 from the tank I, the fuel pump 3 forces the fuel up into the bellows 24 of the fluid pressure operated switch 2| thereby causing the bellows to be expanded upwardly, which causes the electrical contact 21 of the fluid pressure operated switch to be moved upwardly out of contact with the electrical contact 23, thus breaking l ansspae stopping the motor and its connecting mecha nism. Upon the, second or auxiliary tank ll becoming empty of fuel or substantially so, the operation is repeated until the fuel in the other auxiliary tanks Ii and if has been used.

The automatic operation of the fuel' control system described above, does not interfere with the manual operation of the rotary valve ll by means of the handle ll, except that the handle can only be turned in a clockwise direction for operating the valve through the rod i1.

v and 81 respectively. Each electric fuel gauge In the modified form of the invention, each of the fuel tanks 8' to if, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is provided with an electric fuel gauge 84, 8!, 86

comprises a fuel actuated float 88 arranged within one of each of the tanks and secured to one end of a rod 8!, the other end of the rod being connected to a bevel gear 10 which is mounted on a vertically extending support I I The bevel gear I0 is mounted on the support Ii at the lower end thereof adjacent to the bottom of the tanks and is adapted to mesh with a bevel pinion I! which is mounted on one end of a driven shaft 18. The

' bevel pinion" isprovided with a small extension shaft 14 which extends vertically downward from the pinion and is rotatably mounted at its lower end to a horizontally extending portion ll pro vided on the lower end of the support and suitably secured to the bottom of its respective tank, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The driven shaft 18 of the pinion 12 extends vertically upward from the pinion parallel with the support Ii and passes through the upper end of the tank. A contact arm I is at .one'end to the upper end of the driven shaft-ll and is adapted to contact with a substantially semi-circular rheostat resistance 11' at its other end. The rheostat resistance I1 and the contact arm 18 are mounted in a casing ll on the upper end of 'each of the tanks and are adapted to be connected in circuit by conductors '18 and II respectively, with afuel recording instrument (not shown) which may be mounted on the instrument panel ll of the vehicle. The

contact arm-l8 is provided with an insulated finger II which is adapted to contact with a pair of resilient. contact members 82, I2, 82" and 82', one of each of the resilient contact members I! to 82" being provided on one of each of the fuel gauges N to 8'! respectively, and are connected in circuit with a fuel tank selector-valve commutator 88, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and with a solenoid circuit which is adapted to open and close a motor circuit including'the electric motor 38 which in turn is 'adapted to actuate the mechanism indicated generally by C, as heretofore described, for rotating the valve ll through the fuel control rod II.

The commutator 88 is fixably mounted on the inner side of the instrument panel l8 of the vehicle, being insulated from the fuel tank selectorvalve indicator 20 which is mounted on the opposite side of the instrument panel from the commutator. The valve control rod IT projects through the center of the commutator 88 and the indicator 28 and terminates in the handle i8 mounted on the'outer end thereof. The commutator 83 comprises an inner slip ring 84, which is insulated from an outer slip ring or contact segment 85 having a plurality of cut-out portions 86 provided therein, in one end of each of which cut-out portions 88 is mounted one of each of a and with one of the contact buttons" to 81',

during one point in the operation of the device. and with the inner slipring and the outer slip ring 88 during another the mechanism, which will hereinafter be described. J Y

One of each of the resilient contact members 82 to 82'!" of the electric fuel gauges M to 81, is connectedto one of each of the contact buttons 81 to 81' of the commutator 88 by conductors 80. ll, 82 and a respectively, and one of each of the other resilient contact members is connected by one of each of a plurality of.conductors 94, 88', I4" and 84" respectively, to a common return conductor 88 which is in turn connected with the outer slip ring 88 of the commutator 88 at 88. A conductor 81 connects the common conductor II with, the negativeside of a battery 88 and the positive side of the battery is connected by a conductor II which is wound around a solenoid Ill having a primary contact iii provided thereon and is then connected to the inner slip ring 84 of the commutator at I82, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The solenoid III is adapted to open and close an electric motor circuit by causing its primary contact ill to contact with a pair of secondary electrical contacts I" and iill of the motor circuit for closing the moto'r circuit thus causing the motor 88 to'be operated. The contact I" of the motor circuit is connected to the positive side of the battery 88 by a conductor ill and the contact IN is connected by conductor l8 to a switch i'ill which is in turn connected to the terminal 42 of the electric motor 88 by a conductor I88. The other terminal 48 of. the motor is connected to the negative side of the battery 88 by with the fuel eway Ii thereof in communipoint-in the operation of cation with the inlet port 8 of the valve casing 4, which is connected in communication with the fuel tank 9' by the conduit I8 and that the arm 88 of the commutator 88 has been rotated by the valve control rod I! to the position indicated in Fig. 6, with the electrical contact 88 on the outer end of the arm contacting with the contact button 81 of the commutator and with the inner slip ring thereof, as the fuel in the tank 8 is used up through the supply pipe 2 leading to the carburetor l, the float 88 in the fuel tank 8' is caused to move downwardly, thus rotating the bevel gear II which rotates the pinch '12 and hence the driven shaft l3, whereby the which is connected to one of the resilient contact members I! and to the contact button II of the commutator II, then through the electrical contactll of the arm ll, through the inner slip ring I of the commutator, to the conductor I! and thence through the conductor II which is wound around the solenoid "Land then to the positive side of the battery .8. The circuit is then completed from the negative side of the battery through the conductor II to the common return conductor N to the conductor I4 and thence to the other of the resilient contact members ll of the fuel gauge .4.

The solenoid circuit being closed, the solenoid III is energized by the battery .0, thus operating the solenoid to cause the primary contact Ill thereof to contact with the contacts I and I of the motor circuit which closes the motor citcult and operates the motor 30. The motor circuit is completed from the positive side of the battery 9. through the conductor Ill to the electrical contact I" through the primary contact III of the solenoid to the other contact I of the motor circuit, through conductor I", switch I", conductor III. to the terminal I! of the motor, then from the other terminal 8 of the motor, through the conductor I" and thence to the negative side of the battery. The electric motor I! is caused to rotate the eccentric gear I! through the motor pinion 5|, thus pulling on the ratchet arm 54 to rotate the ratchet gear II one quarter of a turn, which rotates the valve ll a quarter of a turn through the rod ll, whereby the fuel passageway I! of the valve is placed in communication with the inlet port 6 of the valve casing which is connected to the fuel tank III by the conduit ll, thus causing the fuel in the fuel tank It to pass through the valve to the supply pipe 2 leading to the-carbureter I of the engine. As the valve control rod I1 is rotated, the arm I. of the commutator ll is also caused to be rotated in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, thus breaking the electrical connection between the contact button .1 of the commutator and the inner slip ring .4 thereof and causing the electrical contact 8. on the arm I. to bridge the insulated space Ill and contact with the inner slip ring I and the outer slip ring ll of the commutator, thus keeping the solenoid circuit completed through the outer slip ring ll and the inner slip ring II, the outer slip ring ll being connected to the common return conductor I! which in turn is connected to the negative side of the battery ll, and the inner slip ring I being connected by the conductor it to the positive side of the battery.

The solenoid circuit is caused to remain closed through the inner slip ring M and the outer slip ring I! by the electrical contact I! of the arm lluntilthearmhasrotatedaquarterofaturn in which case the electrical contact ll slides off of the outer slip ring but remains in contact with the inner slip ring 84 and contacts with the contact button 01 of the commutator which is connected to one of the resilient contact members 82' of the fuel pressure gauge I on the fuel tank It, the other resilient contact member I! of the fuel pressure gauge 65 being connected to the common return conductor ll by the conductor I. As the fuel tank Ill becomes empty the float I! of the fuel pressure gauge G! is operated, thus causing the arm I. thereon to move the insulated contact ll into contacting engagement with the resilient contact members 82' which closes the solenoid circuit which in turn closes the motor, circuit to operate the motor II and its con. necting mechanism, which again rotates the valve ill a quarter of a turn and causes the fuel passageway I! of the valve to be placed in communication with the conduit I3" leading into the fuel tank II. The arm 88 of the commutator II is also rotated a quarter of a turn into contagt with the contact button 81" of the commuta or.

This automatic operation of the system is continued until the fuel in the other fuel tanks H and I2 is used up. The solenoid circuit for the fuel gauges it and 01 on the upper end of the fuel tanks II and II respectively, is completed through the conductors 92 and II, which are connected to one of each of the resilient contact members If" and 02" and to the contact buttons l1" and ll' respectively of the commutator 83. The other contact of each of the resilient contact members 82" and II' of the fuel gauges It and i1 is connected to the common return conductor 05 by conductors N" and N' respectively.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel and efficient form of fuel control system for vehicles which is well adapted for the purposes indicated and even though I have herein described certain features of construction and operation of parts, it is nevertheless to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers,

. fuel to the main conduit, said means including a rotary valve and means for imparting a step by step movement to the valve.

2. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a multi-way rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers and means connected to impart a step by step rotary movement to said valve automatically to connect said containers in succession to supply fuel to the main conduit as the fuel supply in the respective containers is exhausted.

3. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a multl-way rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor controlled mechanism connected to impart a step by step rotary movement to said valve, switch means controlling the mechanism and connected to be actuated in response to the exhaustion of the supply of fuel from any connected container to energize the motor of the mechanism and thereby operate the valve to connect another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit.

4. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a multi-way valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor connected to actuate said the main fuel conduit and adapted to contact when fuel is being exhausted from any connected tank, and switch means controlled by the bellows and connected to energize the motor,.

whereby the motor operates the valve to connect another container to communicate with the main conduit and the fresh supply of fuel operating the bellows and switch to deenergize the motor.

5. In a fuelsupply system for aircraftand the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers. a multi-Iway, valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor, ratchet means operated by the motor and connected to actuate said valve, switch means controlling the motor and connected to be'actuated in response to the exhaustion of the supply of fuel from any connected container to energize the motor and thereby actuate the ratchet means for operating the valve to connect another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit.

6. In a fuel supply systemfor aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers. a multi-way rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, manual control means connected to operate said valve directly to connect said containers in succession to supply fuel to the main conduit, and a motor controlled mechanism connected indirectly with and adapted to impart a step by step rotary movement to the valve to connect said containers in succession to supply fuel to the main conduit as the fuel supply in the respective containers is exhausted.

I. In a fuel supp y system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit. branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers. a multi-way rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor controlled coacting with and adapted toim partastepbystep rotary movementtosald valve.

a solenoid connected to control the operation of the motor of the mechanism, switch means controlling the solenoid and connected to be actuated in response to the exhaustion of the supply of fuel from any connected container to operate the solenoid and thereby energize the motor to operate the'valve for connecting another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit.

8. In a'fuel supp y system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers. a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers. a multi-way rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor controlled mechanism coacting with and adapted to impart a step by step movement to the valve. a float actuated switching means for controlling the motor of the mechanism and responsive to the supply of fuel in any connected container to energlue the motor and thereby actuate the mechahim to operate the valve to connect another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit.

9. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a

multi-way valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor, ratchet means operated by the motor, said ratchet means comprising 7 an eccentric gear rotated by said motor, a ratchet arm pivotally to the ratchet gear connected to operate the valve and adapted to be rotated by said arm upon the operation of the eccentric gear by the motor, switch means controlling the motor and connected to be actuated in response to the exhaustion of the supply of fuel from any connected container to energize the motor and thereby rotate the eccentricgear for operating the arm and. ratchet gear to operate the valve for connecting another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit.

4 10. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, 9. main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers. a valve control rod, a multl-way valve mounted on said control rod for controlling the fuel delivery from the containers, a motor, ratchet means controlled by said motor and connected to rotate the valve control rod, an electric circuit including a solenoid, a source of potential for enersizing said circuit. an electric circuit connected to said motor, a source of potential for energizing said second mentioned circult, said second mentioned circuit adapted to be opened and closed by the solenoid of the first mentioned circuit, switch means connected to the first mentioned circuit and adapted to be actuated in response to the exhaustion of the supply of fuel from any connected container to close said first mentioned circuit to operate the eccentric gear, a

solenoid to close the second mentioned circuit container operating the switch, means to open the first mentioned circuit and thus deenergize the solenoid. thus opening the second mentioned circuit for deenergizing the motor and stopping the operation of the ratchet means controlled by the motor, a handle mounted to the rod for controlling the valve manually into communication with successive containers and an indicator for indicating the amount of movement n to place said valve into communication with the successive tanks.

11. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers. a main fuel supply conduit. branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a multi-way valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers. a commutator including contact portions and an outer and inner slipring, a contact-arm adapted to remain in contact with the inner slip ring and to successively contact with said contact portions and the outer 'slip ring of said commutator, a mechanism connected to actuate said valve and contact arm, a motor connected to operate said mechanism, a fioat actuated switch means on each of said containers responsive to the fuel in the containers, circuit means connected to said motor and connecting each of the float actuated switch means of the containers with one of each of the contact portions of said commutator and with the outer and inner slip rings thereof, whereby upon the exhaustion of the supply of fuel in one of the containers, its respective fioat actuated switch means closes the circuit means to energize the motor through said circuit means to operate said mechanism for actuating the contact am out of contact with the contact portion of said commutator which is connected to the float actuated switch meals of the exhausted container and to suecessively cause the arm to contact with the contacting portion of the commutator which is connected to the float actuated switch means of the other containers containing fuel and with the outer slip ring of the commutator.

12. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a multi-way valve controlling the fuel delivcry from the containers, a commutator including contact portions and an outer and inner slip ring, a contact arm adapted to remain in contact with the inner slip ring and to successively contact with said contact portions and the outer slip ring of said commutator, a mechanism connected to actuate said valve and contact" arm, a motor connected to operate said mechanism, a float actuated switch means on 'each of said containers responsive to fuel in the containers, circuit means connected to said motor and connecting each of the float actuated switch means of the containers with one of each of the contact portions of said commutator and with the outer and inner slip ring thereof, whereby upon the exhaustion of the supply of fuel in one of the containers, its respective float actuated switch means closes the circuit means to energize the motor through said circuit means to operate said mechanism for actuating the contact arm out of contact with the contact portion of said commutator which is connected to the float actuated switch means of the exhausted container and to successively cause the arm to contact with the contacting portions of the commutator which are connected to the float actuated switch means of the other containers containing fueland with the outer slip ring of the commutator, means for manually controlling the valve and means for indicating the amount of movement necessary to place said valve into communication with the successive tanks.

13. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like, having a plurality of fuel containers, a

main fuel supply conduit. branch conduits connecting the main conduit to several containers and means adapted to be operated in response to the exhaustion of fuel from one container to connect another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit, said means including a rotary valve for controlling the fuel delivery from the container, a rotary switch, a mechanism connected to impart a step by step rotary movement to the switch and valve, and separate means on each of said containers for controlling said mechanism.

14. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like, having a plurality of fuel containers, 9. main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit to the several containers, a rotary valve controlling the fuel delivery from the containers and means connected to operate said valve automatically to connect said containers in succession to supply fuel to the main conduit as the fuel supply in respective containers is exhausted, said means including a rotary switch, a motor controlled mechanism connected to impart a step by step rotary movement to said valve and switch and a float actuating switch means on each of said containers.

15. In a fuel supply system for aircraft and the like, having a plurality of fuel containers, a main fuel supply conduit, branch conduits connecting the main conduit with the several containers and means adapted to be operated in response to the exhaustion of fuel from one container to connect another container to supply its fuel to the main conduit, said means including a valve control rod, a multi-way rotary valve and rotary switch mounted on the control rod, a motor controlled mechanism connected to impart a step by step rotary movement to the valve control rod, valve and switch, a float actuated switch means on each of said containers and an electric circuit means connecting the said float actuated switch means to the rotary switch and motor.

EDWARD M. GAVIN.

D l s c L A l M E R 2,i46,729.-Edward M. Gavin, Barksdale Field, La. AUTOMATIC FUEL CONTROL Srs'rms roa Vmnonss.

Patent dated February 14, 1939. Disclaimer filed March 31, 1942, by the inventor; the assignee, The Arc Equipment Corporation, approving.

' Gazette April 28, 1942.]. 

